European Buyout value soars, exits rebound

Private equity firms returned to dealmaking in their droves last year, with the value of backed buy-outs in Europe almost tripling to €49 billion (£40.9 billion) from €18.3 billion in 2009, research shows.

European buy-outs rose by 17 per cent in volume from 433 to 505, according to a report from the Centre for Management Buy-out Research at Nottingham University.

The exit market also rebounded strongly with the overall value of businesses sold by private equity totalling €55.7 billion last year, up from €9.3 billion. It was the first time the value of exits outstripped investment (€49 billion).